The Beer Wrangler

Beer reviews, styles, food pairings and more

Archive for category Specialty Ale

Dogfish Head Midas Touch

Jan 17

Posted by Wranglerette in 4 Tankards, Ale, Delaware, Flavoured Beer, Honey Ale, Specialty Ale, Spiced Ale, United States, Wranglerette | No Comments

Wrangler Rating:

tankard.jpgtankard.jpgtankard.jpgtankard.jpg (Excellent)

Yum Yum! Dogfish Head’s Midas Touch is both justified and ancient, being based on a 2700 year old ancient Anatolian recipe which is a re-creation based on analysis of drinking vessels that were uncovered during an archaeological dig in what is now Turkey – drinking vessels that resided within what is thought to be the tomb of none other than King Midas himself (although suspiciously they had not been turned to gold!)

I can’t say that I have ever tasted a beer quite like this (which is equal parts a delight and a shame.) Deeply golden in colour it is pleasingly sweet with hints of honey and muscat grapes but without the cloying sweetness of many meads (or bee vomit as I like to call it).  The nose has distinct notes of tropical fruit and the finish has a deliciously dry biscuity taste.

As there aren’t really any other beers like this out there I don’t have much compare it to but I think this beer would be a great one for ladies to try but anyone interested in exploring the myriad of flavours beer can create would do well to give this a go.

I’d pair Midas Touch with a Moroccan tagine or a mild Goan prawn curry with coconut milk rice dumplings.

ABV: 9%

Best Served: 8°C

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Pyramid Breweries Snow Cap Winter Warmer

Jan 14

Posted by Wrangler in 4 Tankards, Ale, Specialty Ale, United States, Washington, Winter Ale, Winter Warmer, Wrangler | No Comments

Wrangler Rating:

tankard.jpgtankard.jpgtankard.jpgtankard.jpg (Excellent)

Pyramid Snow Cap is the Winter seasonal offering from this popular Seattle brewery, and claims to be made in the “spirit of the British Winter ales”. At 7% alcohol, it certainly has the strength to warm the cockles, but does the flavour keep up? The combination of  English and Pacific North West hops give this Winter warmer a nice bitterness, but unlike many other North American versions of this classic Christmas brew, it has copious amounts of delicious malt to back it up and keep them in check. There are notes of cocoa bean and dark caramel on the palate, which leads onto the hoppy flavours; a touch of citrus, spice and a light floral taste give way to a rounded, balanced and smooth finish. This beer is a joy to drink and is a fantastic interpretation of a Winter Warmer, keeping true to the tradition, while maintaining its own Northwest identity. Drink this one with a beer-battered fish and chips, at Pike Place Market in Seattle, or in a London Chippy, it’ll feel right at home at either!

ABV: 7%

Best Served: 12°C

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Rogue Mogul Madness Ale

Jan 4

Posted by Wrangler in 3 Tankards, Ale, Oregon, Specialty Ale, United States, Winter Ale, Winter Warmer, Wrangler | No Comments

Wrangler Rating:

tankard.jpgtankard.jpgtankard.jpg (Recommended)

Rogue Mogul Madness Ale is a  Winter warmer with bite. It has a dark ruby-brown colour and a fairly creamy tan head that stays with the beer. There are some caramel flavours with some faint notes of banana bread. The unusual thing for a winter warmer, but not unusual for Rogue, are the obvious handfuls of hops used in the brew. They offer a pleasant bitterness on the finish that tastes a little grapefruity, and tends to last for a while after the beer has been swallowed. This is an enjoyable beer, but tastes like a good ESB to me. Rogue don’t seem to want to make a beer that has been lightly hopped, and perhaps are now victims of their own dogma, producing a lot of excellent but similar tasting products. I would love to see them do a really rich malty winter warmer, as they are brilliant brewers but are in danger of becoming just a bit one-dimensional.

ABV: 6.5% (approx)

Best Served: 12°C

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Anchor Brewing ‘Our Special Ale’ 2009 (Christmas Ale)

Dec 7

Posted by Wrangler in 4 Tankards, Ale, California, Christmas Ale, Flavoured Beer, Specialty Ale, United States, Winter Ale, Wrangler | No Comments

anchor2009Wrangler Rating:

tankard.jpgtankard.jpgtankard.jpgtankard.jpg(Excellent)

Anchor Brewing famously change the recipe for their Special Ale every year, as well choose a different tree, a symbol of the Winter Solstice, to adorn the label. This version (2009), when held up to the light, has a gorgeously dense ruby colour and an almost creamy pale tan head. The aroma is full of malty molasses with a definite hoppy highlight. The flavours that follow fill the mouth, but don’t overwhelm it; the main taste that starts off is a strong malty one, that develops into a black molasses backbone to the beer. There are some laid-back spicy notes layered into the malt, perhaps nutmeg or a hint of cardamon, but the hit of a citrus hop gives this sweetish beer an assertive and refreshing finish. This Winter seasonal ale is a real pleasure to drink, and is not too heavy or laden with spices, so is good for  those who find the ‘big’ spiced warmers a bit too much!

ABV: 5.5%

Best Served: 10°C

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Granville Island Brewing Pumpkin Ale

Oct 12

Posted by Wrangler in 3 Tankards, Ale, British Columbia, Canada, Flavoured Beer, Fruit Beer, Pumpkin Ale, Specialty Ale, Wrangler | No Comments

giblabel_pumpkin_aleWrangler Rating:

tankard.jpgtankard.jpgtankard.jpg(Recommended)

Granville Island Pumpkin Ale is a tasty bright ruddy amber coloured beer. The aroma is really quite sweet, and is reminiscent of a Belgian strong pale ale, smelling of candied orange peel and sweet spice. The flavour is thankfully not as sugary as the nose suggests, containing toasted pumpkin seed, and the roasted flesh of the pumpkin. The beer notes are not lost though, there are plenty of roasty malt flavours and a nice refreshing bitter finish. Why not pair this with some cold roast meat and chutney left over from a Thanksgiving lunch – it’ll go perfectly!

ABV: 6%
Best served: 8°C

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Traquair Jacobite Ale

Sep 23

Posted by Wrangler in 5 Tankards, Ale, British Isles, Flavoured Beer, Great Britain, Scotland, Specialty Ale, Spiced Ale, Wee Heavy / Scotch Ale, Wrangler | No Comments

Traquair_Jacobite_Ale

Wrangler Rating:

tankard.jpgtankard.jpgtankard.jpgtankard.jpgtankard.jpg(Outstanding)

Traquair Jacobite Ale is brewed in the historic Traquair House, one of the oldest inhabited houses in Britain. This beer descends from an 18th century recipe, and it has left us a very full-bodied Scotch Ale.   The name ‘Jacobite’ comes from the followers of King James II of England, VII of Scotland who was deposed as King of Great Britain by the Dutch William of Orange. In 1745 there was a final failed attempt to oust the German King George II in favour of Charles Stuart ( the grandson of James II/VII) and this beer commemorates the 250th anniversary of this rebellion.This is a marvelously well balanced spiced wee heavy, with a hit of  black treacle and aged red wine on the approach. Dark liquorice notes follow on, suggesting a touch of sweetness, with just a hint of the coriander, but the finish moves on to a wonderfully dry, vinous bitter cocoa bean denouement. This is a fantastic example of a flavoured strong ale, and should be tasted by anyone who considers themselves an aficionado of beer. I would drink this on its own as a digestif, instead of port or brandy as the flavours and strength make this a meal in itself.

*                                                          ABV: 8%

*                                                          Best Served: 12°C

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Fuller’s Organic Honey Dew Ale

Aug 20

Posted by Wrangler in 4 Tankards, Ale, British Isles, England, Flavoured Beer, Golden / Summer Ale, Great Britain, Honey Ale, Specialty Ale, Wrangler | 1 Comment

fullers-Honey_Dew

Wrangler Rating:

tankard.jpgtankard.jpgtankard.jpgtankard.jpg(excellent)

Fuller’s Honey Dew is a Golden Summer Ale that is brewed with organic honey; don’t think that this is a sweet beer though, as the honey is subtle and beautifully balanced. There is a touch of the pale malt, a spritz of hops and the honey note that finishes it all off with a thirst quenching roundness. A nicely chilled pint of this on a hot summer’s afternoon is where it’s best. It is light enough to drink on its own all day, or matched with a summer salad or grilled chicken dish. It has a pale golden colour and light carbonation that complements the refreshing style of this ale from one of London’s best independent brewers.

ABV: 5%

Best served: 7°C

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Fraoch Heather Ale (Williams Bros. Brewing)

Jul 29

Posted by Wrangler in 4 Tankards, Ale, British Isles, Flavoured Beer, Great Britain, Pale Ale & Bitter, Scotland, Specialty Ale, Wrangler | No Comments

Fraoch_Heather_Ale

Wrangler Rating:

tankard.jpgtankard.jpgtankard.jpgtankard.jpg(Excellent)

This is a version of an old Scottish recipe, using heather flowers and gale to flavour the brew rather than hops. Gale is a plant traditionally use to make ‘Gruit’, a mixture of herbs to flavour ale.  It is great to see someone make historic ales as the Williams Brothers do; their selection includes four other beers which are well worth investigating. The beer has a pale amber colour with a light head. There is a touch of malt on the palate followed by an attractive herbaceous floral flavour. The subtle sweetness of the heather and gale notes are balanced by a crisp dry finish. This beer would go well with flavoursome salads and many chicken and pork dishes – more versatile than you would imagine!

ABV: 5%

Best Served: 11°C

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